"Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do."
"Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do."
I am pleased to announce my candidacy for the position of Justice of the Peace in Churchill County. Over my 34 years of dedicated service to our community, I have accumulated a wealth of experience in various roles within the court system.
During my 18 years in the Justice Court, I worked diligently in every capacity, from Civil Clerk to Misdemeanor Clerk, Felony Clerk, and ultimately as the Chief Court Clerk for 14 years. In this leadership role, I successfully managed the daily operations of the court, overseeing budget preparation and management, grant writing and administration, as well as formulating policies and procedures. My responsibilities also included the supervision of staff, ensuring a well-functioning and efficient court.
In 2009, I had the privilege of being appointed as the Director of Court Services, a newly established department aimed at addressing jail over-crowding and improving the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of our criminal justice system. Within just 15 months, my department received national recognition from the National Association of Counties for its effectiveness and innovation, reflecting our success in enhancing county government and the court system. As Director of Court Services, I manage the daily operations of the department, prepare and manage our budget, write and administer grants, formulate policies and procedures and supervise staff, ensuring a well-functioning and efficient department. I am also a hands-on department head and I assist staff with the daily requirements of supervising inmates that are released from our jail. In addition, I was appointed by the Churchill County Board of Commissioners to represent our county on the Nevada Local Justice Reinvestment Coordinating Council, which is comprised of one representative from each county in Nevada and was created to make recommendations to the Nevada Sentencing Commission. Moreover, I have achieved certification as a Pretrial Services Professional with Honors from the National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies, showcasing my dedication to maintaining the highest standards in our field. With a comprehensive and hands-on approach, I am proud to contribute to the effective and just operation of our justice system.
I am passionate about bringing my thorough knowledge and extensive experience in various aspects of the criminal justice field back to the Justice Court. Over the years I have developed excellent working relationships with other department heads within the county, as well as a vast network of colleagues throughout the state. If elected as your Justice of the Peace, I pledge to bring a fresh, well-rounded, open-minded, and fair approach to the position. I believe that my track record demonstrates my commitment to our community and my ability to make a positive impact on the justice system.
I am grateful for your support and humbly ask for your vote in the upcoming election. Together, we can work towards a just and effective justice system for all residents of Churchill County. - Brenda Ingram
I think the community and our justice system deserves a judge that is far more selective about who they are letting out of jail on their own recognizance than the current Justice of the Peace is. I will be more focused on community safety when it comes to releasing arrestees. Our local Law Enforcement does a great job solving crimes and making arrests, but those arrested are getting released from jail before the ink is dry on the officer’s report, even when they are a high risk to our community. It’s not right, it’s not safe and no one in Fallon wants that nationwide trend happening here.
We have an evidence-based risk assessment tool that the Nevada Supreme Court has mandated we use. It is highly predictive of whether a defendant will re-offend or fail to appear for court, if released. My department interviews inmates to get pertinent information, runs their criminal histories, verifies their information through references, and then completes the risk assessment. This risk assessment is then provided to the Justice of the Peace. At their initial hearing, high risk arrestees are often released shortly after their arrest. They then must be supervised and monitored by my department, with most of them violating the terms of their release, and re-arrested, only to go back in front of the current Justice of the Peace, often to be released yet again. It is absolutely the revolving door syndrome.
I understand and support the presumption of innocence, as well as recent Supreme Court rulings that state that judges need to lean towards release of defendants unless clear and convincing evidence is shown that they should have to post bail or be detained. But the risk assessment IS clear and convincing. That is why the Supreme Court ordered its use. Prosecutors rightfully argue against release almost without fail on high-risk cases, but many are released anyway, leading to a high rate of failures to appear for court and more crimes being committed. Our community deserves better.
Another huge contrast between my opponents and me involves our commitment to be in the office. For whatever reason, for the last 5 years, the incumbent has treated the Justice of the Peace position as part-time employment and referred to it as a part-time job to me personally. He is frequently in the office for only an hour or two per day. Likewise, my other opponent was quoted in the LVN stating that he will keep his optometry office open several days a week. I, on the other hand, will be a full-time judge, as it should be. Having worked in the Justice Court for 18 years, I know that there is plenty that a Justice of the Peace should be doing throughout the day. For example, a judge should be a leader, a supervisor and a department head. A judge should be making decisions and signing documents for staff and law enforcement throughout the day, in a timely manner, rather than making them wait until the next day. A judge should be doing their online training in the office to remain available to staff and law enforcement. None of which involves Trotter's excuse of ex-parte communication for having nothing to do. He has nothing to do because he doesn't KNOW what to do. His frequent absences aren’t giving the people of this community or his staff the level of service that they deserve. The taxpayers are paying a full-time salary, and they deserve a full-time person in office that will give their full time and attention to the duties of the office and will be accessible during working hours. If elected, I will do just that.
I am passionate about bringing my thorough knowledge and extensive experience in various aspects of our local justice system back to the Justice Court. Over the years I have developed excellent working relationships with other department heads within the county, as well as a vast network of colleagues throughout the state. If elected as your Justice of the Peace, I pledge to bring a fresh, well-rounded, open-minded, and fair approach to the position. I believe that my track record demonstrates my commitment to our community and my ability to make a positive impact on the justice system.
Unlike Ben Trotter:
All of these things have happened to Ben Trotter and it is not appropriate conduct for any employee, let alone an elected official.
Not only have none of the above ever happened to me, I have never been disciplined in my entire working career. I have a longstanding record of excellent performance evaluations and ethical work standards.
I have been part of this community for many years, serving Churchill County in the Criminal Justice field.
2009-present - Churchill Co. Court Services - Director
1992-2009 - Churchill Co. Justice Court - Chief Court Clerk
1990-1992 - Churchill Co. Sheriff's Office - Dispatcher
I am committed to serving you as:
It is so important to vote in both the primary and the general elections. Because there are three candidates in this race, if one candidate gets more than 51% of the vote in the primary election, they are automatically the winner. If you don't vote in the primary election in June, you may not get a say!
Please see our Frequently Asked Questions tab for important information regarding voting days and times. If you need to register to vote or change your current registration, please visit this link: https://registertovote.nv.gov/
I am asking for your support and your vote. Displaying a sign, word-of-mouth, passing out flyers, and donating are all ways of helping me get elected.
“I am committed to serving you as a FULL TIME Justice of the Peace, bringing trust, integrity, accessibility and a focus on the SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY to this office. I would appreciate your support and your vote."
-Brenda Ingram
2/10/24
Did you know…. That I took a CCW class today?
Shout out to Stillwater Firearms Association for putting on a great Concealed Carry class! Thank you to Art Mallory, Jess Dushane and the rest of the dedicated members who give up so much of their time to help the rest of us be responsible gun owners! My third CCW class and I still learn something new every time!
2/19/24
Did you know…that the Justices of the Peace in most Nevada counties do not need to be a lawyer?
The population of a county or township determines whether a person must have a law degree to hold the position of Justice of the Peace. A candidate must have a law degree only if their population is more than 100,000. Churchill County’s population was 25,516 in 2020, therefore a law degree is not required to run for this office.
To be qualified, a candidate must:
1. Be a qualified elector.
2. Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
3. Never have been removed from judicial office by the Commission on Judicial Discipline.
Given this list of requirements, it’s important to consider my more than 30 years of experience in the court system, 18 of those years were spent in the Justice Court, overseeing every aspect of the court’s operations. In addition, I have served 15 years as the Director of Court Services, gaining valuable experience as a department head within the county. I have excellent working relationships with other departments and agencies, and I have extensive knowledge of all the processes, policies, and procedures of the court. I have a well-rounded, open-minded, and fair yet firm disposition that will bring a much-needed fresh approach as your Justice of the Peace. I hope you agree!
2/25/24
Did you know…I am a native Nevadan?
I was born and raised in Yerington, and except for my time going to school at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, I have lived my entire life within a 60-mile distance. I went to work for Churchill County almost immediately upon moving to Fallon 34 years ago and Fallon has been my beloved home ever since. I know and love this area and I am committed to helping keep it the awesome place that it is to live.
2/29/24
Did you know…there is a self-help website where you can learn more about navigating a civil case through court?
If you are considering representing yourself in a civil matter, or just want to learn more about the courts, the website http://www.civillawselfhelpcenter.org/offers a wealth of knowledge. You can learn how each court works, what types of cases they handle and the processes that are followed with each type of case. There are also forms you can fill out yourself, along with instructions on when and how to use them. There are links to the Nevada Revised Statutes, the State Law Library and the Nevada Legislature, as well as numerous free online classes that teach about a variety of topics. While the Civil Law Self Help Center is in Las Vegas, they provide information and forms that can be used throughout the state. Check it out! http://www.civillawselfhelpcenter.org/
3/7/24
This one may be controversial, but it is by far the most asked question that I have received. It concerns my opponent’s campaign activities during working hours, and I told you that I would answer your questions. So, in that spirit, here is my next “Did you know.”
Did you know - that Churchill County Code 3.12.090 states that “County employees shall not engage in political activity of any kind during working hours” and that the court’s regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm?
It is my position that employees, including the judge, should comply with the County Code. Campaigning during working hours, while being paid to be at your job, is morally and ethically wrong and I would never do that. This is why you will only see me campaigning after work hours and on weekends.
I acknowledge that elected officials have some latitude in the performance of their duties. However, absenting yourself for unreasonable amounts of time, contrary to rules and a code of conduct established for county employees, casts a shadow on the judiciary when it, and the judge, should be above reproach.
3/15/24
Did you know….that I wrote and self-published a children’s book?
In this book, I try to share with little ones how to show gratitude for even the simplest of things by doing something thoughtful in return. It’s an accomplishment that I am very proud of. It wasn’t easy, but that feeling that you get when you are successful at doing something hard and that you really believe in, made it all worth it.
That’s how I feel about serving as your Justice of the Peace. It won’t be easy, but I believe more than anything that I can bring about much needed change in our court and be the Judge that you deserve. Even though it will be hard, the feeling I will get from doing something that helps our community be a safer, better place will definitely make it all worth it.
3/28/24
Did you know...that my department, Court Services, was featured on the Churchill County, NV Facebook page and its website?
Click the link and read about my department. I have the best co-workers that I could ever ask for!
https://www.churchillcountynv.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=608
4/23/24
Did you know that AB 518 of the 2023 legislative session provides for a $450/day stipend to the Justice of the Peace, for merely being available on the weekend? That’s $23,400 a year, in addition to his full-time salary.
Laws passed in the 2023 legislative session made it necessary to have a bail hearing within 48 hours of an arrest. That means if a person is arrested on Friday night, they will be seen for a bail hearing on Sunday. It doesn’t happen every weekend, but the Justice of the Peace gets compensated regardless of whether a hearing is held or not.
So when you hear the incumbent saying that he’s on-call on the weekend and that’s why he takes time off during the week, remember that he is being compensated with your tax dollars for that weekend time and it’s a poor justification for taking time off during business hours.
The Primary Election is fast approaching!
DaysDays
HrsHours
MinsMinutes
SecsSeconds
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.